Ethnic identities. Part (a) questions. Student answer. Student answer. Good example. Example to improve

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1 Ethnic identities Part (a) questions This part of the question assesses your knowledge and understanding (AO1) of a concept. In order to write a good answer you will need to: write a clear defi nition of what the concept means demonstrate that you understand the question through giving examples. Examples can be taken from the pre release material or elsewhere. You should spend approximately 5 minutes on this part of the question. It is worth 8 AO1 marks. 40 Good example The following answer is a very strong one and covers all the points mentioned above. Read the answer and highlight where the candidate has given the defi nition and examples which illustrate it. (a) Define the concept of hybridity. (8 marks) Unit 1: Exam café Hybridity is the term used to describe a mix of two or more cultural influences in the creation of one identity. Les Back s research on a council estate in London revealed that hybrid cultural identities were not fixed but were created by young people who played with different cultural masks. For example the Wigger hybrid identity is created by white youths mixing African American gangsta culture with their British identity. Through the use of cultural artefacts such as music, dress and symbols, an individual can shape their own hybrid identity. Another example of hybridity was found by Johal. His research showed that young Asian males took part in what he called code-switching in which the young males changed their identity and behaviour depending on who they were with i.e. friends or family. (a) Define the concept of multiculturalism. (8 marks) Multiculturalism is when there is more than one culture present in a society. It is the promotion of all cultures having equal rights and that their beliefs should 00-OCRSociologyRevised-ccp.indd 40 26/1/09 15:03:26

2 be seen as equal, meaning that they have the same status. This is one way to define it as there is much debate amongst sociologists as to the precise definition of the term. An example of multiculturalism is evident in the school curriculum; now all children are taught about different religions, this encourages tolerance and acceptance. Also the media promotes multiculturalism; the BBC has an Asian radio station and they play highlights on the radio from the West Indian based Notting Hill Carnival. Now try your own Now try to write an answer to the question below. Remember to use the guidance above. Ask your teacher to check your answer if you wish. (a) Define the concept of ethnic identities. (8 marks) Part (b) questions This part of the question assesses your knowledge and understanding (AO1) and your interpretation and application (AO2a) of sociological ideas. It is worth 16 marks: 12 marks for AO1 and 4 marks for AO2a. You should: refer to concepts, research studies, examples and, if relevant, theory write two clear paragraphs one for each point and should refer to at least one piece of sociological research in each. You should spend approximately 15 minutes on part (b). Good example The following answer is a very strong one and covers all the points mentioned above. Read the answer and highlight where the candidate has referred to a concept, research study or example. (b) Outline and explain two ways in which ethnic identities are created and reinforced. (16 marks) 41 Exam café: Ethnic identities Ethnic identities are created and reinforced by both primary and secondary socialisation. The family is the most important agent of primary socialisation; this is when an individual first learns about their ethnic heritage. Modood (2005) describes this process as the first time we become aware of our ethnic culture through food, language, dress, rituals and traditions. Miri Song s study on British Chinese found that Chinese parents were very influential in reinforcing Chinese values by positively sanctioning children who choose to help out in the family business. These children were seen as more Chinese as they adopted the Chinese cultural characteristics of family solidarity and collective loyalty. Another way in which ethnic identities are created and reinforced is through the secondary agent of socialisation, religion. Religion can also be considered as a primary agent of socialisation as many ethnic cultures are heavily influenced by 00-OCRSociologyRevised-ccp.indd 41 26/1/09 15:03:27

3 religion; these beliefs are passed down through the family from generation to generation. Charlotte Butler in her 1995 study of Muslim girls found that their religion was central to creating their ethnic identity. Butler found that the teachings of Islam were a real guide in the girls lives. However Butler did find that although religion was a major source of socialisation, the girls peers were also an influence on their ethnic and gender identity, and the British influence from their friends in conjunction with Islam gave the girls choice and freedom in expressing their identity. (b) Outline and explain two ways in which secondary agents of socialisation create hybrid identities. (16 marks) 42 Unit 1: Exam café One way in which secondary agents of socialisation create hybrid identities is through education; children at school mix with others from different cultural backgrounds, and these influences create hybrid identities. A sociologist found that at school Asian boys would take on a dual identity and live up to the expectations of their British peers. The Asian boys downplayed their ethnic identity and exaggerated their national identity. Schools and colleges promote cultural diversity and encourage the idea that Britain is a multicultural society through providing cuisine from around the world; this enables pupils to mix and match their culture through consuming food that has different cultural influences. Schools also encourage students to see the value of other cultures by putting on events such as Black History Month and having celebrations for religious festivals and events such as Christmas and Eid. Another way is through the media. The media show us that we can pick and mix our identity and create our own hybrid identity; this is evident in music, films and on television shows. The media has been influential in creating hybrid identities, particularly when it comes to language; for example the famous terms bling and booyakasha (meaning hello) of comedy character Ali G have become part of everyday language for many young people. Now try your own Now try to write an answer to the question below. Remember to use the guidance above. Ask your teacher to check your answer if you wish. (b) Outline and explain two ways in which new ethnic identities are created and reinforced. (16 marks) 00-OCRSociologyRevised-ccp.indd 42 26/1/09 15:03:29

4 Part (c) questions This part of the question assesses your knowledge and understanding (AO1), your interpretation and application skills (AO2a) and your analysis and evaluation skills (AO2b). It is worth 24 marks: 12 marks for AO1, and 8 marks for AO2a, and 4 marks for AO2b. You should: refer to concepts, research studies, examples and, if relevant, theory make some evaluative points. You should spend approximately 20 minutes on part (c). The following answer is a very strong one and covers all the points mentioned above. Read the answer and highlight where the candidate has referred to a concept, research study, example or made an evaluative point. (c) Outline and briefly evaluate the view that peer groups are responsible for the creation of ethnic hybrids in the contemporary UK. (24 Marks) This essay will consider the view that peer groups are responsible for creating hybrid identities in the UK. Hybrid identities are created through the mixing of more that one cultural influence in order to create a whole new individual identity. Hybrid identities are formed and reinforced by the primary and secondary agents of socialisation. The peer group is one of the secondary agents of socialisation and is argued as being one of the most influential agents in creating hybrid identities. Johal (1998) found in his study of second and third generation that British Asians had a dual identity; they inherited their Asian identity from their family, and created a British identity in order to fit in with white peers at school or college. Johal called this the white mask and argued that British Asian had to go through code-switching between their Asian identity and their British identity to ensure that they would be accepted by their white peers. Les Back s (1996) study found that young people played with different cultural styles and that peers were particularly influential in adopting different cultural masks and creating cultural identities. Back found that new hybrid identities were emerging amongst young people in council estates; groups of white, Asian and black peers experimented with different styles, meanings and symbols borrowed from different cultures. Back concluded by stating that the hybrid identities created by the young people were breaking down inter-racial conflict and divisive lines between ethnic groups. However, it could be argued that the media is a more important agent of socialisation in the creation of hybrid identities. Global media forms such as television, music and the Internet have introduced British society to different cultures and the process of globalisation has allowed individuals to adopt different cultures. Music as one form of media has promoted hybridity; this is evident in the music by such artists as MC Panjabi whose music is a fusion of bhangra and hip hop. Brasian music for the first time had a stage at the 2004 Glastonbury festival (Waugh et al, 2008), this was a positive step in promoting Brasian culture and hybrid identity. 43 Exam café: Ethnic identities 00-OCRSociologyRevised-ccp.indd 43 26/1/09 15:03:31

5 In conclusion, although the peer group is influential in creating hybrid identities through the sharing of cultural masks, the media is active in promoting different types of culture including global culture through media forms such as the Internet. Furthermore, the other agents of primary and secondary socialisation such as family and religion are also influential in creating hybrid identities. (c) Outline and briefly evaluate the view that education reinforces ethnic identity. (24 marks) 44 Unit 1: Exam café Education is a secondary agent of socialisation and has been used to reinforce ethnic identity. A study by a sociologist found that schools are ethnocentric and that British culture is seen as superior. This can have a negative effect on Asian and black pupils as they feel inferior and they have to wear a white mask in order to fit in. Black and Asian children experience discrimination at school due to the informal and formal curriculum. Mason argues that education has a hidden informal curriculum which reinforces dominant white culture as being superior; he accuses the educational system in the UK of being ethnocentric. Johal and Bains state that many children wear a white mask in order to fit in to the majority culture. Tony Sewell believes that young black males feel excluded by education as they feel that their teachers who are mainly white are racist as they label all black boys as being deviant and believe that they have no interest in education. Sewell believes this is why many young black males exaggerate their masculinity and that they hold popular culture icons such as P Diddy and 50 cent in high status, as these black role models represent that for black males success will only be possible outside of education. Wright found that the black girls in her study felt that teachers had different expectations of them and treated them unfairly. Family is another agent of socialisation that reinforces ethnic identity. It could be argued as more important than education as your family is the one to teach you your ethnic norms and values. Francis and Archer s study of Chinese families found that the family played an important role in Chinese children s success in education; this was because Chinese families valued education and this value was passed on to their children. Dench s study of Bangladeshi families living in Tower Hamlets found that, for Bangladeshi families, valuing the extended family was very important; this helped to reinforce their ethnic identity. Now try your own Now try to write an answer to the question below. Remember to use the guidance above. Ask your teacher to check your answer if you wish. (c) Outline and briefly evaluate the view that religion is no longer important in creating and reinforcing ethnic identity. (24 marks) 00-OCRSociologyRevised-ccp.indd 44 26/1/09 15:03:33

6 Age identities Part (a) questions This part of the question assesses your knowledge and understanding (AO1) of a concept. In order to write a good answer you will need to: write a clear defi nition of what the concept means demonstrate that you understand the question through giving examples. Examples can be taken from the pre release material or elsewhere. You should spend approximately 5 minutes on this part of the question. It is worth 8 AO1 marks. Good example The following answer is a very strong one and covers all the points mentioned above. Read the answer and highlight where the candidate has given the defi nition and examples which illustrate it. 45 (a) Define the concept of age. (8 marks) Age is one of the forms of categorisation that we have in our society. One way of defining age can be to consider it chronologically. As people get older they take on different roles and their social status increases, for example once you become an adult society views you as more responsible. This is evident in the fact that you have to be 18 to be able to drink alcohol in licensed premises. Age can also be defined by life stages; people pass through the three main life stages of youth, middle age and old age, and at each stage individuals adopt different roles and status. For example when you are young you adopt the role of being cared for as the son or daughter of your parents; by the time you are middle aged you take on the role of being the carer for your own children and your status is increased as you are now in a more responsible role. Exam café: Age identities (a) Define the concept of old age. (8 marks) 00-OCRSociologyRevised-ccp.indd 45 26/1/09 15:03:35